Meanwhile, earlier in September, Political activists from PoK held a protest in front of the United Nations Human Rights Council against human rights violations and exploitation of water resources by Pakistan. The protestors also demanded Pakistan to dismantle terror infrastructure in PoK. Similar protests took place on September 11 against exploitation of natural resources by Islamabad. In Muzaffarabad, the residents hit the streets to demand Pakistan to stop diverting the waters of the Neelum River to Punjab province.

In May this year, Pakistan passed an order to include the Gilgit-Baltistan region as its fifth official province. India also lodged a strong protest against this move. The Indian government summoned Pakistan Deputy High Commissioner Syed Haider Shah. China is also eyeing to open a bus service to Pakistan through PoK under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project. India is against this move.